London LOOP

Erith to Purfleet, near-circular around Greater London via Kingston 241km/150 miles EASY

The London Loop, pioneered by the London Walking Forum, is London's first official orbital footpath, a fascinating journey around the edge of greater London down hidden alleyways through residential areas, along rivers and canals, across public parks, nature reserves, woods, occasional enclaves of farmland and surprisingly few roads, with many unexpected gems along the way. It is easily reachable by public transport. Some parts of the route on the north of the Thames still remain to be waymarked but it is walkable throughout using the official guide.

The Hogsmill Walk forms an attractive part of the LOOP along the Hogsmill stream from Ewell towards Kingston (see also the Thames Down Link under Thames Path).

The Pinner Grimsdyke Circular Walk connects the LOOP at Harrow Weald Common with Hatch End, visiting the ancient earthwork of Grim's Ditch, with circuits of 9.5km/6 miles and 7.5km/4 miles.

The Dollis Valley Greenwalk follows a riverside route from Moat Mount to Hampstead Heath (16km/10 miles) via Barnet, Finchley and Hendon, through a mixture of countryside, parkland and green corridors. The section between Moat Mount and the edge of Barnet is now part of the London LOOP, and the route then follows the river south to connect the route with the Capital RING near Hendon, before continuing to the edge of the Heath.

The Havering Riverside Path forms the last section of the LOOP along the river to Coldharbour Point. An extension on to Purfleet is planned.

	Adopted by the Greater London Authority as a strategic walking route
	Some easy-access sections. See leaflets listed below or contact borough councils for details.

Connects with Beeches Way, Bromley Circular Walks (for North Downs Way E2), Capital RING (via Dollis Valley Greenwalk), Colne Valley Park Circular Walks, Colne Valley Way and Colne Valley Trail (see Grand Union Canal Walk), Downlands Circular Walks (for North Downs Way E2), Essex Way (via Epping Forest Centenary Walk), Grand Union Canal Walk, Green Chain Walk (SE London, via Thames Path), Green Routes in Hounslow, Havering Walks, Hertfordshire Chain Walk, Hillingdon Trail (see Grand Union Canal Walk), Lea Valley Walk, MODA Suburban Guided Walks (via short link), Pymmes Brook Trail, Socratic Trail, South Bucks Way (see Midshires Way), Thames Down Link (see North Downs Way), Thames Path (for Capital RING), Three Forests Way, Vanguard Way, West London Waterway Walks

Highway Authorities Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Buckinghamshire, Croydon, Enfield, Essex, Harrow, Havering, Hertfordshire, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Redbridge, Richmond, Surrey, Sutton, Waltham Forest

Parks and Countryside Colne Valley Park, Corporation of London Open Spaces, Lee Valley Park, Royal Parks, Thames Chase Community Forest, Watling Chase Community Forest, East London Parks (Hainault Forest, Havering Country Park), North London Parks (Hillyfields Park, Trent Country Park), South London Parks (Addington Hills, Happy Valley, Jubilee Country Park, Petts Wood, Scadbury Park, Selsdon Wood), West London Parks (Hounslow Heath)

Click here to find bed & breakfast accommodation on this path.

Tourist Information Centres. There are TICs at Bexley, Croydon, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston and Swanley. Click here for details.

Public Transport. The route has been designed to be completed in stages using public transport. The guidebook and leaflets listed below divide the LOOP into easy sections between National Rail and Underground stations, Tramlink stops or bus stops with frequent and convenient rail connections on or near the route. All but one of these points are inside the London zonal fares boundary, allowing Travelcards and other multi-modal passes to be used. A number of specially-signed link routes to stations and bus stops have been created where these are a short distance off the main route. For more on public transport in London, click here.

Explorer maps 147, 160, 161, 162, 172, 173, 174
Landranger maps 176, 177, 187
The route is marked on recent editions of these maps. Local street atlases may be more useful in built-up areas. See Walking in London: Maps.

Publications